Temporary binder



March 12, 1935.

C. E. SHEPPARD TEMPORARY BINDER Filed Aug. 5, 1934 EEEIEEE SEEE .EEEEI ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. l2, 1935 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A 171,993,811; 'rinyrroRAmr BINDER e Charles'E. Sheppard, New York, N. Y. Application August s, 1934, seriaiNo. 738,168

s claims. (o1. 12o-1s)V My invention relates in general to binders for temporarily binding or fastening-together looseleaves and it is particularly adapted to the type of such binders in whichthe loose-leaves are releasably secured in the binder by means' of detachable posts. One of the objects of the invention is to simplify the structure of the leaf securing means and its releasable-locking-mechanism, so as to minimize the Anumber of parts thereof and reduce the number of manipulations which the user is required to perform in applying the device, locking it in place and unlocking and removing it. Another object in view is to so construct andarrange the post locking-mechanism that its main portion may be disposed upon the exterior of the binder, so as to be readily accessible and easily operated from the exterior thereof, in locking and unlocking it, without having to open the cover of the'binder. A further object inV view is. to assemble in a handy unitary structure,

the detachable binder post or posts and the major part of the locking-mechanism thereof. Another object in View is to combine the compression type of expanding mechanism with the tray style of binder, so that while the expansion is effected by means of the telescoping posts, the Yloosesheets ride over them and require no openings or perforations other than those for the one or more removable locking-posts, thereby avoiding any indentations or cut-away places in the edges of the loose-sheets. Other objects of the invention will be noted from the detailed description hereinafter vgiven in connection with the drawing herein.' Y

The structures of the' preferred forms of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure 1 shows a perspective View of a looseleaf binder embodying the form of my invention in which Va single removable locking post -is used.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the Ybindershown in Fig. 1, the section being taken throughthe back part, on a plane indicated by the line 2 2, in said Fig. 1, the post and its locking mechanism beingY shown indotted lines, in positionfof removal or application.

Figure 3 shows a perspective View ofthe single scale,y of the'inner edge of one ofthe notched and perforated loose-leaves, used in the construction shown in Figs. land 2, and shows 'the rela-V tion of the `removable locking-post andthe telescoping posts.

Figure A5 is a View infelevation, on a reduced scale, of the back or rear portion of a binder, in which the removable binder device is provided with two locking-posts.

Figure 6 vis an enlarged vertical cross-sectional; View of a portion of the back section or part, of the structure having two locking-posts.

Figure 7 isa view in horizontal cross-section, on a reduced scale, of the two locking-post structures, the plane of the section being indicated by.v the broken-line 7--7, in Fig. 6. i Y

Figure 8 is a view, on a reduced scale, of the binder having the two locking-posts and the unnotched loose-leaves, spread openwith the leaves 11n-locked and placed inan ordinary supporting rack, withy the edges of the inner ends ofthe leaves resting freely upon the set of telescoping posts. i

Referring to the` drawing, in which like numerals of reference designate-like parts'throughoua the binder comprises a back section or part Which consists in a back member 1, on which vare adjustably mounted the eXpansible sides 2 and 3, which l,are actuated in the usual way by means of the toggle-levers 4, pivoted thereto, the levers being expanded and contracted by the movements of the traveling-nut`5, which is pivoted to thev elbow of the pair of levers and is moved to and fro by the screw-bar 6,which in turn isV rotated by a detachable key or crank 7. The expansion mechanism is disposed within the back-member 1, and the nut operating screw-bar 6, is accessible to the key 7, through a key-hole 8, formed -in the endof. the back member, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. Between the extension sides 2 and 3, are mounted the usual telescoping-posts 9, 9, which in the construction shown in Figs. 1V and 2, lie within the 'notches 10, formed in theinner edges of the loose-leaves 11, when they are placed in the binder; the posts all being disposed in the same plane'and being near the hinge 12, by which the covers 13, 13, are attached to the respective sides 2 andV 3, and as indicated by the dotted lines inFig. 1; t

My improved detachable locking device comprises one or more posts of the expansible typel and consists in an upper tubular part 14, and a lower tubularpart 14:', which slides within the former. The post is mounted upon the removable member or plate 15, by means of a threaded stem 15', located upon the under side of the member and onto which is screwed the upperp'end of the interiorly threaded tubular part 14. A' helical spring 16, is arranged within the two telescoping tubular parts 14 and 14.-', andaheaded pinr 16' is inserted within the upper end of part 14, with the head thereof bearing against the threaded stud or stem 15', and serves to guide the action of the spring and prevent its buckling. The spring maintains the outer part 14', extended under spring pressure and it is compressed when such part is forcibly pressed within the part 14. When necessary, the post may be detached from its mounting, by unscrewing the inner part 14, from the threaded stem 15'.

In addition to the binder post 14-14, the removable member 15, which normally sets in a countersunk portion 2a, carries upon its outer face a thin sliding latch-member or plate 1'?, mounted to slide thereon by means of longitudinal slots 18, in the latch-member, and the headed-studs 19, which are xed upon the member l5, and Valso serve to keep the two members together. The side 2, of the back, is provided with a hole 20, midway of its length, for the reception of the locking-post lil-142 which is passed therethrough and thence through a perforation 21, formed in each loose-leaf near its inner edge. The free end of the post when forced home into locking-position, fits into a cavity or hole 22, located inthe opposite side 3, of the back, to stabilize the post, as shown in Fig. 2. The removable-member with its attached post, may be locked to and 11n-locked from the exterior of the side 2, of the back, by means of the outwardly projecting headed pins or studs 23, which are xed upon the exterior of said side. When the locking xture or device is applied to the binder, the locking-studs 23, pass up through apertures 24, in member 15, and thence through the key-hole shaped slots 25, formed in the latch-member 17, so that the latter may be slid back and forth on the studs. The exterior of the latch-member, is

provided with a finger engaging boss 26, for

manipulating the latch-member in its sliding movements. Y

Each of the loose-leaves or sheets 11, has its inner Y edge formed with notches or cut-away places 10, for receiving the telescoping-posts 9, in the form of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and also formed with a central perforation 21, for receiving the locking-post 41li-14. These notches assist in retaining the leaves in place when the locking-post is removed.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the lockingdevice is provided with two locking posts 14a, and

the telescoping-posts 9a, are placed well to the rear oi said posts 14e and the loose-leaves 11e, are un-notched and provided with two perforations 21a, for the locking-posts. This permits ofV the un-notched edges of the leaves engaging and resting loosely against a fixed part within the back section, which part in this form consists in the set of the telescoping-posts 9e; see Figs. 7 and 8. In Fig. 5, the latch-member 17, is shown as unlocked for removal of the locking-mechanism and freeing the leaves from the locking-posts. When the leaves are thus freed from the locking posts and the compression of the sides is released, the binder may be placed in an ordinary rack or holder, which is indicated inY broken-lines at 27, in Fig. 8. When the binder thus rests on its back and is spread open as shown, the contained leaves are entirely free and wholly unobstructed so that one or more may be taken out for reference or entering thereon certain memoranda, or items of account, as the case may be. In this position of the binder, the uri-locked leaves rest at their inner edges loosely upon a fixed part in the back section, such as thetelescoping-posts 9a, in thepresent structure, as indicated in Figs.

.same way as described in reference to the single post structure in Figs. 1 to 3. The position which the locking device assumes in applying or removing the same, is indicated in broken-lines in Fig. 2,

In both forms herein shown, the loose-leaves are Acompressed rmly together at their inner ends within the back part, by means of the expansibleside-s 2 and 3, when forcibly brought towards each other by the action of the togglelever mechanism and asshown in Fig. 2. When the binder is to be opened to manipulate the leaves, the compression is released by moving the sides 2 and 3, away from each other to the desired extent.

In both forms which I have shown herein, the removable member or plate is oblong and rectangular in shape and it is set in a counter-sink at 2e, so that with the thinness of the removablemember and its latch-member, the device is practically ilush with the exterior of the side 2, when the same is in operative locked position, thereby avoiding any objectionable projecting and obstructing parts upon the exterior of the binder, which would tend to catch in foreign articles or mar the surface of a desk. Furthermore, the latch-member 17, retains its adjusted position when slid on the member 15, by virtue of the frictional contact between the surfaces of these two iiat members and Without the use of a spring; the locking ,and unlocking of the device is accomplished by a rectilinear movement of the latch-member, instead of a swinging or hinged action, and this adds to the important advantage of having a structure with non-projecting parts which remain ush with the binder sides when the device is in place and when itis being locked and un-locked.

Each end of the side 2, is provided with an inwardly projecting. ilange 28, and likewiseeach end of the side 3, is provided with a similar flange 29, the flanges being in Vstaggered relation so as to overlap each other in the expanding and contracting movements of the binder, and they serve to prevent the lateral displacement of the looseleaves, when they lare uri-locked and free; the side edges of the leaves being in engagement with the anges, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and `'7.

In applying the locking post mechanism, the sides 2 and 3, are first compressed together so as vto bind securely the inner ends of the leaves, then the end of the locking post is inserted in the hole 20, in side 2, and is pushed forcibly down so as to enter its end in the recess 22, and compress the spring 16,'within the post. Then the removable member 15, is seated in the countersunk depression 2a, and the latch-member is then slid into locking position on the studs'23. The device is removed by un-locking the latch member; whereupon the spring within the post forces the `post outwardly into the broken-line position shown in Fig. 2, so that it may be-lifted entirely away from 4the binder and removed,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a loose-leaf temporary binder, the combination of a back-section, a removable-member adapted to be detachably mounted upon the exterior of said back-section and provided With one or more binder posts constructed and arranged to extend across the interior of said back-section to engage and releasably bind together the looseleaves when said member is mounted in place on said back-section, a latch-membermounted on said removable-member, and latch-keeper means mounted on said back-section for locking engagement With said latch-member.

2. In a loose-leaf temporary binder, the combination or" a back part, a removable-member adapted to be demountably placed upon the exterior o said back-part and provided with one or more inwardly projecting binder-posts constructed and karranged. to span the interior of said back-part to engage and releasably fasten together the loose-leaves when said removablemember is mounted in place on said back-part, a

latch-member mounted to slide on said removable-member, and latch-keeping projections arranged upon the exterior of said back-part so as to be engaged and disengaged by the sliding latch-member.

3. In a loose-leaf temporary binder, the cornbination of a back-section, a removable member adapted to be detachably locked upon the exterior of said backfsection and provided with one o-r more binder-posts constructed and arranged to extend across the interior of said back-section to engage and releasably bind together the looseleaves when said removable-member is mounted in place upon the exterior of said back-section, a latch-member mounted to slide on said removable-member and provided with slots for receiving latch-keeping studs, and klatch-keeping studs mounted upon the exterior of said backsection so as to engage and'disengage said slots of the latch-member, the said removable-member being formed With apertures for receiving said latchkeeping studs. Y

Y CHARLES E. SHEPPARD. 

